- Some farmers have already submitted declarations, others are receiving requests for clarification regarding water collection.
- Animal production uses significantly more water.
Farmers must explain why they use more water
In recent weeks, there have been some somewhat bizarre situations regarding water consumption on farms. Farmers have to write explanations of where such a large water consumption comes from. This is the result of recording and verifying the removal of waste from domestic sewage treatment plants and septic tanks.
This year, municipalities began to inspect septic tanks and domestic sewage treatment plants. Owners of single-family houses are already familiar with the subject. You need to prove your identity with a contract, an invoice for removal. Meanwhile, many farmers, primarily those involved in animal production, have to explain why water consumption at their address is higher than standard, and above all, it significantly differs from the amount of liquid waste removed from a given address.
Of course, you can't hold a grudge against the municipalities, because they perform tasks imposed from above. However, you can wonder where these regulations will lead next? The problem lies in a certain inconsistency. It happens that the declared amount of waste is disproportionate to the water collection. And this is explained in many cases. Why is it declared that liquid waste will be collected in the amount of, for example, 2,000 liters per month, when the water collection is 30,000 liters?
Meanwhile, in an agricultural holding, water consumption will be higher in every scenario than in a standard household. This is obvious, let's see, for example, how much water is taken up necessary to perform plant protection treatments. And what about livestock farms.
Generally, as reported by farmers, officials approach the issue "calmly", in small communes they know the farmers very well and know that water consumption will be high because, for example, a given farm has dairy cattle. However, the paper must be there.
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How much water does a cow drink?
Estimates indicate that for every liter of milk, a cow must drink at least two or even three times more water (i.e. for every liter of milk, she will drink 2-3 liters of water). Here, it is assumed that a cow will drink 70-140 liters of water. Heifers need about 30-50 liters of water per day. Dry cows need about 50 liters of water. Of course, water consumption is affected by temperature, but also by the age and weight of the animal. Beef cattle drink about 30-40 liters of water per day, and calves – depending on their age – should drink an amount of water corresponding to approximately 10-20 percent of their body weight.
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The Animal Health Act is getting closer. Does it pose a threat to breeders?
Horses and pigs also have a large demand. For example, a sow during the suckling period will drink about 30 liters of water during the day, pregnant sows will drink up to 20 liters. In turn, an adult horse will drink about 40 liters of water per day (or even more).
Animal production is obviously associated with the fact that much more water is used. Meanwhile, maybe at any moment we will have to explain how much water a given animal actually consumes? Maybe it is an exaggeration, but we are not used to such absurdities. On a livestock farm, daily water consumption is in the hundreds or thousands of liters.
